New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-08
No DIAMONDS FOUND IN KxSrUcxY.
RESULTS OF THE SEARCH MADE FOR THE GOVERN
MENT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

RESULTS OF THE SEARCH MADE FOR THE GOVERN
MENT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
George +. Kuns, the weli-known young minersoeist
with Tiffany T. Co.. has Just returned from diamond
prospecting expedition to Elliott County, Kentucky
which he made In company with J. g. Diller OF the
United States Geological Survey. They were sent BY
Major J. W. Powell, director Of the United States
Geological Survey on the invitation of Professor J.
T. Proctor, State 9eolostst of Kentucky. The great
similarity Of the perdotite OF Elliott County to that
OF the Soath African diamond nslds has attracted
much attention and it was hoped that So sthing
might come OF the investigation.
Messrs Kuns and Diller started from Washington
on June Is. From willard, Carter County, the
nearest railroad station they had nnemiles ride TO
their destination. The road was rocky that their
mules had to climb the boulde like flies na!igat
ing among split lump sugar, and the explorers had to
hold ON BY their hngerDais. The entire out-crop Of
rock examined is contained in two square miles The
lian adopted the simple and somewhat primitive
one OF careful sitting and panning the stream beds
receiving drainage directly from the source OF tho
perdotits. The services OF the people In the neigh
bvrhood enlisted to scrutinizs the steep slopes
where GENE weathsred out Of the peiidotite might be
exposed. Particular attention was paid to the ex-
animation OF the solid lock and resdusry deposts
which 90 closely resemble the diamantiierous earth
OF the South Africln mines The result OF their
efforts was that NO diamonds were discovered; Oat
several interesting faots were. For INSTANCE. they
found that in Kentucky, as there IL . considerable
declivty the transportation OF material keeps pace
with tho dsintegraton. and there no great Aecumi
laton OF resduary deposits the narrow divides,
and hillsdes. Samples OF the shale irclosed in the
peridotte we're found to contain O6ol per cent of
carbon, against 1892 per cent In South African
specimens Il is possible, Mr.. Kunz thinks, aud not
Improbable that IL the theory OF the gneous origin OF
the diamond which was first proposed by Roscoe, OF
London, and later Independently b. n. Cornell
Lewis is trae, number OF diamonds may have besn
formed III the Kentucky peldotiGe; bat the general
psucty of carbon in the rock to the perido
tite 10 certainly Encouraging to tho prospector.
Do you intend to ADVISE that the matter be worked
up r. asked TRIBUNE reporter OF Mr.. kunz yester-
day:
IL should not adyise any to put dollar into it,
was the reply. Ii the people there want TO look
around some, should advise them to do it in their
spare time The best time to search for gems IN that
locality 10 immed stely after heavy rain when they
most likely to be wei exposed upon the surface
those most interested propose to keep the search
economically by furnishing responsible individuals in
the region with a number OF cheap, rough diamonds,
mounted ia xpensive rings for comparison that
they may know what to look for under the mcst favor
able circumstances"
Messrs. Kunz aud OILERS report 70 the Geological
Survey will be read at the meeting ~ the American
Association tor the Advancement OF Science IN
August.